Productivity enhancement in drip irrigated chilli (Capsicum annuum L.) through inorganic fertilizers

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during kharif 2020 at the Irrigation Water Management Research Centre,Belavatagi to investigate the productivity enhancement in drip irrigated chilli (Capsicum annuum L.) through integratednutrient management. The experiment was laid out in split plot design with 14 treatments. The treatment comprised of twolevels of irrigations 0.8 PE and 0.6 PE and seven different sources of nutrients (N1: 100 % RDF through inorganic fertilizers,N2: 100 % RDN through FYM, N3: 100 % RDN through vermicompost, N4: 100 % RDN through green leaf manuring,N5: 50 % RDN through inorganic fertilizers + 50 % RDN through FYM, N6: 50 % RDN through inorganic fertilizers +50 % RDN through vermicopost and N7: 50 % RDN through inorganic fertilizers + 50 % RDN through green leaf manure)with three replications. Growth parameters like, plant height, number of leaves, leaf area and dry matter production andyield attributes like, number of fruits per plant, fruit yield were significantly influenced by drip irrigation levels anddifferent sources of nutrients. Application of water through drip irrigation at 0.8 PE with 100% RDF through inorganicfertilizers recorded significantly higher plant height (82.52 cm), number of leaves (157.9), leaf area (1592 cm2 plant-1), totaldry matter (81.92 g plant-1), number of fruits per plant (48.72), fruit yield per plant (50.76 g), dry fruit yield (2200 kg ha-1),ascorbic acidcontent (124.52 mg 100 g-1), oleoresin (15.80 %) with higher net returns (` 2,26,920 ha-1) and benefit cost ratio(4.24) over other treatments.